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Songwriting Competition - Addendum: Tools to help with songwriting

Collection of the official Rules and Guidelines, plus Addenda
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Mister Fox
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Songwriting Competition - Addendum: Tools to help with songwriting

#1

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This thread is a supplementary for the Songwriting Competition.


This "megathread" is about tools that might help you with songwriting. Be it Harmony Theory and Chord Progression tools, Pattern Generators, or a starting point of instruments. The thread is (currently) split into three section. The first being "helpers", the second being "instruments, presets and samples", and the last section is "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" (places where to pick up more content, for every price range).


The add-on set is split over the course of the following posts, for easier understanding and simplicity.


:arrow_right: THREAD INDEX:

Post #001 -- Introduction Post
Post #002 -- Helper Tools: Harmony Theory tools, Chord Progression tools, Pattern Generators
Post #003 -- Tools of Interest: Instruments, Samples and Presets (free to affordable)
Post #004 -- Places to fuel your GAS (not implemented yet)


If there are any questions, feel free to ask them in the Q&A and Gossip Area.
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Helper Tools: Harmony Theory tools, Chord Progression tools, Pattern Generators

#2

Post by Mister Fox »

HELPER TOOLS


The following tools are of interest, if you're either new to songwriting, not as skilled yet and need some help, or want something to "add" to your current tool set to elevate your productions.


:arrow_right: Harmony Theory and Chord Progression tools:

ScalerPlugin Pty Ltd - Scaler 2 (collaboration w/Plugin Boutique, currently the most comprehensive chord/harmony tool out there)
Xfer Records - Cthulhu
W.A. Production - InstaChord and InstaScale
CodeFN42 - Chordz (free, Windows only)
trackbout - Ripchord (free/open-source MIDI chord generator, think Xfer Records Cthulhu, but simplified)
Fabrizio Poce / J74 - Progressive ("Max4Life" is needed, Ableton Live bound)



:arrow_right: Pattern Sequencing and Generative Sequencing:

OMG Instruments - BlueARP (a free comprehensive arpeggiator and pattern sequencer)
Surge Synth Team - Stochas (free/open-source MIDI probabilistic polyrhythmic sequencer)
2Rule - TugMidiSeq (polyphonic arp and seq creator MIDI plugin, free, cross-platform, mostly VST3 only)
Mario Nieto World - Harmony Bloom (polyrhythmic pattern generator, inspired by modular step sequencers)
HY-Plugins - HY-RPE2, HY-SeqCollection2, HY-SEQ32 and HY-MPS3 (various MIDI sequencers, free versions with limited features available)
CodeFN42 - Transition (experimental / generative MIDI sequencer, free, Windows only)
Axart Software - AutoBeat (12-track MIDI beat generator, free version is without MIDI drag and drop)
Rose Hill Tribe - BabyDrummer (MIDI drum pattern sequencer, inspired by FL Studio's Step Sequencer, free, Windows only)


Please note, that a lot of DAW also have Harmony Theory and/or Chord Generation tools built in. Modular Environments like VCV Rack, DISTRHO Cardinal and Cherry Audio's Voltage Modular also have various step and pattern sequencers that you can use to control other synths with.

Please consult the manual of your go-to software for more information.


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UPDATED: 01-JUL-2024 06:50 UTC+2
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Tools of Interest: Instruments, Samples and Presets

#3

Post by Mister Fox »

TOOLS OF INTEREST


It is really easy to get started with making music nowadays, as there are plenty of tools released on a daily basis. From free to affordable to almost daily sales. The only limit is the space on your hard disk or SSD. But where to even start? This is where the following section might help.


:arrow_right: Instruments:

AKAI - MPC Beats (limited to 1 instance, 8 MIDI + 2 Audio tracks, but can be used as VSTi in any other DAW)
Apisonic Labs - Speedrum (a "spiritual successor" to One Small Clue POISE, Lite version available)
Big Fish Audio - Momentum (a free and powerful WAV/AIFF loop mangler)
IK Multimedia - MODO DRUM CS (one drum kit)
Rayzoon - Jamstix (an amazing drummer brain)
IK Multimedia - MODO BASS 2 CS (one e-bass)
Spitfire Audio - LABS
Spitfire Audio - BBC Symphonic Orchestra Discover
Orchestral Tools - SINEfactory
Vienna Symphonic Library - the "HELLO Free Instruments" series (offering an Orchestra, Piano, Small Percussion and more)
Project Sam - Free Orchestra 1 and Free Orchestra 2 (the latter has just been released, Kontakt Player license included)
Soundpaint - started by 8dio's CEO Troels Folman as more advanced sample player engine to NI Kontakt (Full), offers many free sample sets
Decent Samples - project started by David Hilowitz as alternative to NI Kontakt (Full), offers many free/affordable sample sets
Sound Props - "Free Series" (offering a synth, guitars, bass and drum sample sets for free/small donation, needs Kontakt 6+ Full)
kv331 audio - Synthmaster Player (the free version comes with over 600 presets!)
Cherry Audio - Voltage Modular Nucleus ("entry level" to Modular Synthesis), Synthesizer Expander Module and Surrealistic MG-1 Plus
DISTRHO - Cardinal (a proper open-source variant of VCV Rack, plugin variants available)
Surge Synth Team - Surge-XT (a free and open source hybrid synthesizer)
Matt Tytel - Vital (spectral warping wavetable synth, a free "basic" version is available)
Blaukraut / Dominique Wurtz - Charlatan 3 (free virtual analog/VA synthesizer with OSC morphing techniques, Windows/Linux only)
thewavewarden - Odin II (a free and open source hybrid synthesizer that was heavily inspired by Reason Studios' Thor)
TAL Software - among offering outstanding and affordable studio tools, their free synth/plugin selection is nothing to scoff at
Full Bucket (freeware synths covering: Korg, Crumar and ARP Instruments)
Nils Schneider Kawai K1 (freeware emulation project of the Kawai K1)
Phuturetone - offering various interesting synthesizers (also check out the Plugins4Free backup for even more VST plugins)
nakst Audio Plugins - offering various interesting synthesizers (e.g. 3-OSC subtractive, "hybrid"/Wavetable, FM, and Phase Distortion -- IMPORTANT: only CLAP/AU/FL Studio Native version available, no VSTi - VST based DAW need a CLAP2VST3 Wrapper)
Sonic Charge - Cyclone (Yamaha TX16W/Typhoon sampler)
CWItech - TX16Wx Software Sampler (If you want a highly powerful Soundfont2 loader / sampler)
PotenzaDSP - Amigo Sampler (affordable yet powerful "Amiga Tracker inspired" sampler)

Please do remember, our kind License Provider Musiclab also offer 14 day trial versions of their virtual guitar range.



:arrow_right: PRESETS FOR SYNTHESIZERS

Soundpacks - an information page highlighting sample sets and preset packs that have been released for free
PresetShare - a free synth presets exchange platform (account signup needed)
Tom Wolfe's Synth Vault - the free Monthly Preset Club (account signup needed)



:arrow_right: SAMPLES (more of them):

Pianobook - started by Spitfire Audio's co-founder Christian Henson, offers many free/affordable sample sets in various formats
99Sounds - independent label and sound effects repository, started by Tomislav Zlatić, founder of Bedroom Producers Blog (mostly WAV)


More recommendation for free/affordable tools can be found at the #audio-tech-deals section on our Discord server.


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UPDATED: 01-JUL-2024 07:15 UTC+2
UPDATED: 30-SEP-2024 23:35 UTC+2 -- Unfortunately, VSTBuzz no longer exists.
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Places to fuel your GAS [PLACEHOLDER]

#4

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PLACES TO FUEL YOUR GAS:


Placeholder for future section addition.


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UPDATED: 01-JUL-2024 07:20 UTC+2
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